Former ’19 Kids and Counting’ Star Faces Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Involving a Nine-Year-Old Girl

Joseph Duggar, a father of four, has been taken into custody following accusations of inappropriate conduct with a minor. The 31-year-old, whose brother Josh Duggar is a convicted sex offender, faces charges related to lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a child, as detailed in a statement by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Lynn Haven, Florida.

The arrest stems from a report filed by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas, which contacted the Bay County authorities on Wednesday to discuss allegations of past sexual abuse. According to police, a 14-year-old girl has come forward, claiming Duggar engaged in inappropriate behavior with her approximately five years ago.

Investigators revealed that the alleged incidents took place in 2020 when the girl was nine years old. At the time, she was on a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, where the misconduct is said to have occurred. The case is currently under investigation as authorities seek further information.

An alleged victim, identified as a 14-year-old girl, told law enforcement about a series of inappropriate incidents Joseph Duggar was involved in around five years back, police said.

Authorities said the alleged incidents occurred during in 2020, when the alleged victim was nine years old and on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the BCSO for further comment. A Duggar family spokesperson told the Daily Mail the family had not issued a statement as of Wednesday evening. 

Joseph Duggar was arrested on Wednesday in connection with allegations that he touched a nine-year-old girl on her underwear and genitals; he’s pictured in his mugshot after the arrest

Joseph, 31, was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Lynn Haven, Florida, announced

Duggar’s mugshot was released on Wednesday evening by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The former reality star sported a thick beard, and he gazed forward with a stony expression, which notably contrasted the grinning 2021 mugshot of his brother Josh, which had also been snapped in Washington County.

The alleged victim told investigators that the family had been staying at a home located on Danny Drive at the time of the illegal incidents. 

Joseph Duggar ‘repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,’ BCSO officials said, adding that his behavior appeared to escalate as the vacation continued.

In another incident, Joseph ‘asked [the victim] to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket, ‘rubbing’ his hands on her thighs.

‘During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.’

Duggar subsequently told the alleged victim he was sorry, and the incidents ceased, according to officials with the BCSO.

The father of the alleged victim confronted Joseph Duggar about what happened on Tuesday, at which time he admitted to his actions to the father and a detective in Tontitown, the BCSO said.

Joseph is the younger brother of convicted sex offender Josh Duggar, pictured in 2021 

The father of the alleged victim confronted Duggar about what allegedly happened on Tuesday, at which time he admitted to his actions to the father and a detective in Tontitown, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said; Joseph is pictured with his wife of nine years, Kendra 

Joseph Duggar was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior — Molestation of a Victim Less Than 12-years-old; and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Conducted By A Person 18 Years or Older.

Authorities with the BCSO said that Joseph Duggar is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County.

Sources told People on Wednesday that Joseph had been booked into the jail in Washington County at around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Joseph said he was shocked by his brother Josh’s criminal actions in a December 2015 appearance on Jill & Jessa: Counting On.

A then-20-year-old Joseph said, ‘I don’t think there’s any way any of us would have known that my brother was living such a secret life. It broke my heart.’

Joseph has been married to wife Kendra since September 2017, and they are parents to four children, People reported.  

For those who have been impacted by sexual abuse, text ‘STRENGTH’ to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.